Promethean Activeboard - http://www.prometheanplanet.com



This hardware is similar to the Smartboard, active_board.jpg but created especially for educators. The active board allows for teachers and students to manipulate the computer screen using the Activeboard. Students can participate in creating graphic organizers, manipulating web pages, etc. Promethean planet is a fantastic resource that accompanies the hardware with premade templates and activities. The teacher created lessons on Promethean Planet are aligned with state and national standards.


Replacement Ideas

The Promethean Activeboard is a fantastic replacement for powerpoint. While powerpoint can be use to create interesting presentations for student notes, the Activeboard allows for student to interact with the notes. For instance, students can rearrange ideas on the board to create a venn-diagram or uncover the answer by removing a picture that covers up the answer. The Activeboard can be used as a whole class activity to deliver a message or as a station teaching activity to deliver small group instruction.


Research


In this paper Karen Graham, a teacher at St. Giles C.E. Primary School, documents the increases in student involvement and motivation before and after the Activeboard was installed in her classroom. Using an observation checklist and student responses she documents the increase in "desirable" student behaviors and an decrease in "undesirable" student behaviors. Students were more likely to raise their hand to participate in the lesson and were less likely to be disengaged after the interactive board was installed. I have seem similar results in my own classroom when the activeboard was installed in my own classroom.